KNU’s Doo Tha Htu District Held a Ceremony for the Demarcation of the Htee Thoe Hkee Wildlife Sanctuary

29 July 2023, KNU-Central

The demarcation ceremony designating the Htee Thoe Kee forest area as a wildlife sanctuary situated between Beilin Township and Kyaikhto Township took place on July 28, 2023, in Doo Tha Htu District, Kawthoolei.

The purpose of demarcating the Htee Thoe Kee Wildlife Sanctuary is to:

1.     To protect rare and endangered species, and environmental resources;

2.     And to prevent large-scale development projects that damage environmental resources amid the current changes in political situation.

More than 150 individuals participated in the ceremony, including leaders representing the Karen National Union at the Township, District, and Central levels. The gathering also included military officials affiliated with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), members of the Htee Thoe Kee Wildlife Sanctuary Committee formed to address conflicts and issues that may arise, participants from the Karen Wildlife Conservation Initiative (KWCI) and Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN), along with members of community forest committees from various townships.

Since 2017, the Kawthoolei Forestry Department, with a focus on preserving natural biodiversity, has undertaken research in the Htee Thoe Kee forest area. Despite engaging in dialogues with the local community, establishing a committee, and devising plans for the sanctuary demarcation, approval faced delays due to various circumstances. However, it was successfully granted in 2023.

Source: Public Relation and Information, Doo Tha Htu District